The communist Castro dictatorship is trying to save itself by allowing “private” businesses, but the corrupt, mafia-style regime isn’t going to allow them to operate without getting its cut. The Cuban government has implemented an electronic payment system it controls, where it can skim its share or easily confiscate cash belonging to these so-called private businesses. To ensure compliance, the Castro dictatorship is threatening these businesses with fines, confiscations, and shutting them down.
Via Periodico Cubano (my translation):
MINCIN warns there will be fines, confiscations, and closing of the businesses that do not accept electronic payments
Beginning on February 2, Cuba’s Ministry of Internal Commerce (Mincin) has entered a phase of punitive measures, including fines, confiscation, and withdrawal of commercial licenses from state and private establishments, which would hinder their operations if they do not have electronic payments enabled.
According to statements by Mincin’s Vice Minister, Inalvis Smith Lubénto to the state-run newspaper Granma, the time has come to implement with a firm hand the bankization policy announced months ago due to the increase in inflation that led to an existential crisis of paper money.
Smith Lubén was emphatic in stating that non-compliance with this regulation will not only result in fines but also the withdrawal of the Commercial License and, in cases of repeat offenses, the confiscation of the assets involved in the infringement.
“In the event of repeat offenses, it is planned to apply the confiscation of instruments, equipment, merchandise, or effects that give rise to the offense, in accordance with the provisions of Decree 184 of the organization itself,” said the Castro regime official.
The obligation that applies to service providers or product sellers is less severe for consumers, as electronic payment is an option. “Electronic payment is an optional modality, it is a consumer’s right, and cash transactions will continue to be carried out in commercial units and establishments,” she noted.
At the moment, both forms of payment will coexist, a measure aimed at balancing the transition to digitization without completely displacing traditional payment methods.
Mincin’s raids will inspect a wide range of economic actors, including retail and wholesale sale of goods, accommodation services, and gastronomy, among others. Vice Minister Smith has emphasized that this measure applies to all commercial establishments, regardless of their affiliation with other entities.
The only exemption from the implementation of severe measures will be for businesses located in certain areas of the island, known as “silent zones.” This is due to their limited access to telecommunication services that prevent the installation of Point of Sale Terminals that establish wired connections with data centers of the payment system network.
Two months ago, the Official Gazette published the Ministry of Internal Commerce’s resolution that obliges new state or private establishments to operate with at least one electronic payment channel.
One of the measures is that entities intending to register in the Central Commercial Registry must demonstrate that they possess at least one of the national platforms (Transfermóvil and EnZona) or point-of-sale terminals (QR code) for service provision.